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Arbanassi

The world-famous village of Arbanassi is situated on a plateau of the same name, some 4 km away from the town of Veliko Turnovo. Its impressive architecture and beautiful natural surroundings have long since made it a major attraction for tourists. The houses and churches in the village boast inimitable external and internal decorations, wood-carvings and mural-paintings, dating back the 16th - 18th centuries. Being one of the most original and picturesque dwellings in Bulgaria, Arbanassi is inevitably on the itineraries of a great number of tourists, scholars and artists.There are five churches and two monasteries built in and around the village about the turn of the 17th century. The oldest and most elaborately decorated church is " Rozhdestvo Hristovo " ( " Christmas " ), while " St. Archangels Michael and Gabriel " is the largest one. The smallest of them all is " St. Athanasius ", built in 1637. The other two temples, i.e. " St. George " and " St. Dimitar " date back to 1661 and 1612 respectively. The two functional to this day monasteries - " St. Nikola " and " Dormition of the Virgin " were built in the near vicinity of the village.Tourists find the two museum-houses - " Konstantzalieva " and " Hadjiilieve " most fascinating as well. They are both typical examples of the impressive architectural style, charcteristic of Arbanassi in the 18th and 19th centuries.


Around Arbanassi

A street in Arbanassi

Memorial to the follen in the wars in the 19th and 20th centarie

Arbanassi - general view

House in Arbanassi

A house, 17th century

Konstantsaliev's house, 17th-18th centuries

Stonewalls in Arbanassi

The Konstantsaliev's house was built in the 17th century. The basement was built of stone. The main entrance was protected with a solid studded door. Although the premises are spacious and roomy, the large house fortress emanates coziness and warmth. This is additiunally emphasized by the rich decoration. The owner must have been a rich man with a sophisticated taste, while the master-builder must have been talented for creative work.

This house was built in 17th century. It was reconstructed several times in the following century and from then on has remained the same up to present day. It belonged to a rich merchant Atanas Konstantsaliev, thus being the reason for its name- the House of Konstantaliev.

The first floor is frame-built. The rooms are divided into reception rooms, bedrooms and rooms for cooking. The first group is comprised of a drawing-room, a living-room and a dining-room, doors leading from one into the other, all of them facing the main staircase.

The rich ornamentation of the house speaks for itself and is indicative of the means and taste of the owner. It also gives proof for the gifts and skills of those who built the house. The lay-out of the building points to the profession of the owner - a well-to-do tradesman, owning caravans, traveling on business abroad.

In the Konstantsaliev's house

The canopied delivery room

A well, 17th century

The yard